IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has added its voice to the chorus of calling on the Democratic Alliance (DA) to desist from being pompous and making unreasonable demands to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 7th administration cabinet of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and put the country first.
IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa on Friday briefed the media and said South Africans are concerned about cabinet announcement delays following public spats and heated arguments between the African National Congress (ANC) negotiation team led by President Ramaphosa and ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula and the DA federal leader John Steenhuisen and Helen Zille, DA federal chairperson.
Ramaphosa met with Steenhuisen to discuss cabinet positions after the DA refused to accept an offer put on the table by him after the DA made threats that if the SA President did not abide by the initial offer, the agreement between the DA and ANC was off.
This follows after Ramaphosa, on Wednesday night, allegedly altered the terms of the offer, replacing an offer from the Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) Department Minister with Tourism Department Minister.
Ramaphosa lambasted the DA for jeopardising the foundation of setting up the much-anticipated GNU with its bad-tempered letters of demands.
IFP President said: “From the outset, the IFP has maintained that those discussions should be respected and given space to pave the way forward. So, when alarmist reports began to emerge of a potential stalemate between the ANC and the DA, the IFP was not immediately concerned. There was, as far as we could see, no crisis. We understood that there will be necessary teething problems in the formation of a government of national unity. Now, however, like all South Africans, the IFP is growing concerned.”
He told the media that the work of governance must begin. “We cannot remain in a holding pattern, when there is so much to be done. It is essential that the President, as the Constitution allows him, be able to reach the stage of announcing the new cabinet. The IFP is thus calling on the ANC, the DA, and any other party, to conclude the outstanding issues between them without further delay,” IFP leader concluded.
President Ramphosa said the discussions with ten other parties took place in line with the Constitution and its values however this has not been the case with the DA.
"The discussions with all 10 parties to the Statement of Intent have served to entrench an appreciation for the Constitution, and its values, as well as an understanding of the rules and protocols that facilitate effective and lawful government.
"Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the DA. In its recent proposals, I believe the DA has jeopardized the foundation of setting up a Government of National Unity by moving the goalposts in your letter of 24 June 2024 to me, I am truly taken aback by how you now want two more portfolios to bring the DA's portfolios to 8," Ramaphosa said in his letter responding to the DA.
He also said Steenhuisen's conduct, and approach is moving the goalposts as an attempt to set up a parallel government.
"I also prefer not to deal further with the legally incompetent proposals to unilaterally redetermine contractual arrangements of Directors General and other contracts.
"I did inform you that I felt we should not dwell on the misguided propositions contained in that letter as paying attention to the contents of that letter would divert us from the task at hand of constituting a Government of National Unity," he added.
President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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